Carson City has to lease its own well from the state

A new well drilled on what officials thought was Carson City property will cost $2,900 to lease from the state.

Carson City had to sign a contract with the state Tuesday leasing the well the city recently finished drilling.

State Lands Administrator Pam Wilcox said city officials thought they were drilling a new well on city land at the southeast corner of the main fire station. Wrong: they sunk the well on state property.

"The Carson City Utilities Division inadvertently drilled the well on state property, mistakenly believing it was property belonging to the city of Carson City," according to the letter submitted to the state Board of Examiners.

Wilcox said state officials advised them they could cap the well and drill another nearby, "but they said it was a good well and they were willing to pay for it."

The city will have to pay the state $1,250 a year to lease the well from the state and another $1,650 for the easement where the pipe runs from the well to the city water system -- a total of $2,900 a year.

"It's very close to the line," said Wilcox. "They own the fire station building and a bit of land around the building -- but not much. They thought they were on city land ,but as turned out they were on state land."

One suggestion was that the state sell the piece of land to the city, but Wilcox said the state is buying land in that area, not selling, and is planning two buildings for Conservation and Natural Resources and the Human Services departments.